Hero

I am not aware of all the details of Hero's backstory. If I remember correctly he was purchased for a younger rider and he was just too much horse for her. He is fine on the ground and fine at the walk and trot, but once he starts running he becomes uncontrollable. He was going to be used as a jumper but he has very high withers which make jumping a bad fit. I think he was rescued by Marsha by purchasing him for a whole dollar. A buck for a bucking horse. Seems about right. He is a purebred thoroughbred and 16.1 hands. My first horse was a thoroughbred-morgan. So I have a special place in my heart for thoroughbreds. In some ways to a fault, I am wired for a thoroughbred. I understand their temperment and what drives them forward. It's strange of all people that I understand this type of horse because I am the exact opposite in nature. I am not competitive. I have no desire to be first place. I'd rather everybody get along. I don't want to go fast or furious to anywhere. I'd rather go nice and steady and get there in one piece. But maybe that is why I am good fit for these hotbloods. I can tame the beast so to speak.

Anyway, I've had a secret crush on Hero since the first day I met him. But I was still new to the ranch and had to prove myself. I think she was waiting to see if I actually knew anything about horses and also waiting to see if I would show up the next week. He lives on the hill with Timber and Jack. They are free range horses. They roam the hillside in a little herd. They have human contact when getting fed, when getting their shoes, and when being put in their stalls on occasion. Beyond that they have really reverted back to a pack mentality with Jack as the Alpha Male. Today we went on the hill and brought them into the arena. Once again I was awestruck but Jack's massive head. He brought his nose up to give me an inspectory sniff and I think my whole fist could have gone up that nostril. What little control you think you have over a horse seems to get lost when you realize just how small you are. In the end I really don't think you could get Jack to do anything he didn't want to do. Luckily, he's an agreeable sort.

We tried to get Timber and Hero to run around, but they wouldn't leave Jack. So we tied Jack up and put the other 2 on leads and just walked them around. We just talked to them and pet them and reminded them of their past lives when they were people's horses. I walked Hero. Apparently, he spooks alot and Marsha reminded me to be careful everytime he raised his head and perked his ears. Hero stopped on a dime each time I asked and followed my lead. I gave him a quick brush down and then we put them in their stalls. I hope this leads to further contact with the boys on the hills.

Then I worked with Prinze and the trainer Tracy. We measured him for his harnass and it should get ordered this week. I also got a lesson on lunging. In Alaska I didn't have an arena or a round pen. I just put the saddle on and hit the trails. So lunging is something I knew about, but never did myself. It's alot to think about all at once. It's a good thing I don't embarrass easily, because I flounder quite a bit. Prinze is very forgiving and in a way it's good for me to make these mistakes againsts a 300 lb horse instead of the 1200 lbs ones. I asked Marsha at what point we would get the cart trainer working with him and she said she didn't feel he was going to need it. That between the lot of us, we could make it work. In a way that is exciting. It means I get to be a part of it from start to finish. In a way, it makes me a little sad. Prinze is the son of a champion. He was born and bred to do this. Everytime I work with him I can feel his desire to do well. Alot of the horses there are going blind or have injuries that prevent success. Prinze still has a life in front of him that could be exciting and meaningful. I have no desire to enter competition. But I hope we can find someone who wants to use his skills and show him off. Maybe he can be in parades. I don't know. I guess I never thought about to what purpose we were training him. I am not sure there is one, other than it's good for him. Something to ponder.